Reliability of the N55s

Revision2 · 09-20-2013, 11:51 PM

Hey everyone. I was wondering what everyone's experience has been so far with the N55s since most of you have put in a good couple of years now into the car. I'm seriously contemplating a move to a 2011 335 specifically for the N55 as it gives me power and hopefully relatively good reliability. The way I see it, it isn't really power if every time I go to use it I have to pray that it won't go limp on me (applies to other areas of life as well I know.

). Based on some searching it seems like it is much more reliable than the N54s which were somewhat hit or miss.

Any input would be appreciated.

Freelo · 09-20-2013, 11:57 PM

27,000 miles with tune and zero issues.

There was a thread about a year ago asking the same question with a lot of replies. Most people were tuned and there were very few problems noted with the N55. In particular very few problems mentioned with the HPFP.

Revision2 · 09-21-2013, 12:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Freelo

27,000 miles with tune and zero issues.

There was a thread about a year ago asking the same question with a lot of replies. Most people were tuned and there were very few problems noted with the N55. In particular very few problems mentioned with the HPFP.

Thanks. I believe you're referring to the 2 N54 vs N55 threads I saw in my search and I did go through them as well which led me to my initial impression that reliability is much better than the N54. However, as you mentioned, they were older threads and so I figured I'd do another checkpoint given that there has been even more time and miles put on these engines now and when it comes to questions of reliability only time will tell.

deemarr 335i · 09-21-2013, 01:30 AM

12,500 miles FBO from 5000 miles 0 issues....I love my #N55

MikeNeo · 09-21-2013, 01:31 AM

32k miles and no problems. knock on wood. I've been tuned on and off since 5k or so

335iFFM · 09-21-2013, 05:17 AM

35k kilometers. Tuned since 10k kilometers. Running JB4 Stage 2 Map5 with no Hardware Mods + Aral Ultimate 102 RON octane and 25% of E85. No problems at all *knock on wood*

rr006rbc · 09-21-2013, 05:46 AM

If you don't have issues early on with VANOS units or timing issues it should be smooth sailing after that..

madmanhiker · 09-21-2013, 07:34 AM

Zero issues - April 2010 build. LOVE IT.

D's Bimmer · 09-21-2013, 07:38 AM

I have 112k on my 2011 335i already. Added the Dinan tune. It's been a great car in terms of reliability and performance.

hgtran21 · 09-21-2013, 08:39 AM

holy 112k ?!!?!?

tony20009 · 09-21-2013, 08:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by D's Bimmer

I have 112k on my 2011 335i already. Added the Dinan tune. It's been a great car in terms of reliability and performance.

Good God, man!!! 112K in two, maybe three years! When do you find times to do things other than drive?

D's Bimmer · 09-21-2013, 09:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tony20009

Good God, man!!! 112K in two, maybe three years! When do you find times to do things other than drive?

I know man. I do allot of highway driving for work. My 2005 e46 had nearly 500k on it when I traded it in for the e90. Knock on wood,I have never had any issues with my cars. Mind you I am very particular about maintainence and parts and do almost everything myself.

pspressart · 09-21-2013, 11:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by D's Bimmer

I know man. I do allot of highway driving for work. My 2005 e46 had nearly 500k on it when I traded it in for the e90. Knock on wood,I have never had any issues with my cars. Mind you I am very particular about maintainence and parts and do almost everything myself.

I see you are from Toronto. Are you saying 112k miles or km?

TeinBMW · 09-21-2013, 12:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pspressart

I see you are from Toronto. Are you saying 112k miles or km?

Km

I've got fbo for the past 10k and no issues. I'm sitting at 35000km with zero issues. I love my n55

D's Bimmer · 09-21-2013, 01:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pspressart

I see you are from Toronto. Are you saying 112k miles or km?

KM's I have always thought that since I spend many hours on the road that I might as well have something that is both fun to drive, decent on gas and can play with the big boys at times.

CJ421 · 09-21-2013, 01:16 PM

March 2011 build, currently at 21k without issues to report.

Dark_Knight_335 · 09-21-2013, 02:28 PM

2011 N55 here, with Dinan stage III, free flow exhaust, oil cooler, intercooler, and BMS intake. Zero issues and plenty of smooth, useable power two years running!

Delta0311 · 09-21-2013, 02:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by D's Bimmer

I know man. I do allot of highway driving for work. My 2005 e46 had nearly 500k on it when I traded it in for the e90. Knock on wood,I have never had any issues with my cars. Mind you I am very particular about maintainence and parts and do almost everything myself.

Damn that is a lot of driving! Which cartel are you smuggling for?

IcebergM4 · 09-21-2013, 03:08 PM

July 2010 build here. Tuned since 1200 miles and FBO since 6000 miles. 28000 miles and ZERO issues!

Beer Brewer · 09-21-2013, 03:27 PM

My E90 is a June 2010 build. 32,000 miles with a Cobb stage 1 aggressive tune, not even the faintest whiff of any engine trouble. I had 2 E60 535i's and both ran into engine problems before they hit 60,000 miles. My general understanding is that, while the N55 might not have the tuning potential of the N54, at least many of the bugs had been worked out and that it would be more reliable - that's certainly been my experience thus far.

melloww22 · 09-21-2013, 06:42 PM

2011 FBO with tune/s - solid with PPK 12k miles and COBB 15k miles

Revision2 · 09-22-2013, 12:00 AM

Thanks for all the great feedback and it confirms the impression I got while reading some threads during my initial search. Hopefully I'll be joining this group in the near future. Just need to wait for a larger batch of '11 to return from lease so I have a better chance of getting the options I want.

Cheers everyone.

09-20-2013, 11:51 PM	#1
Revision2 Captain 43 Rep 744 Posts Drives: JB 2011 E90 M3 Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: Toronto iTrader: (6)	Reliability of the N55s Hey everyone. I was wondering what everyone's experience has been so far with the N55s since most of you have put in a good couple of years now into the car. I'm seriously contemplating a move to a 2011 335 specifically for the N55 as it gives me power and hopefully relatively good reliability. The way I see it, it isn't really power if every time I go to use it I have to pray that it won't go limp on me (applies to other areas of life as well I know. ). Based on some searching it seems like it is much more reliable than the N54s which were somewhat hit or miss. Any input would be appreciated.
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09-20-2013, 11:57 PM	#2
Freelo Private First Class 10 Rep 175 Posts Drives: 2014 328i (sold) Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: Los Angeles iTrader: (5)	N55 27,000 miles with tune and zero issues. There was a thread about a year ago asking the same question with a lot of replies. Most people were tuned and there were very few problems noted with the N55. In particular very few problems mentioned with the HPFP. __________________ Koni sport shocks, BMW performance springs, M3 arms and sways front and rear, M3 subframe bushings, Velocity toe arms, M3 front strut bar, Cobb, ETS FMIC, Vishnu charge pipe, RPI scoops, M3 steering wheel, M3 carbon leather interior trim, Advan RS 18 inch wheels, Pilot sport tires
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09-21-2013, 01:30 AM	#4
deemarr 335i Lieutenant 34 Rep 410 Posts Drives: e90 335i performance edition Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: westchester ny iTrader: (2)	12,500 miles FBO from 5000 miles 0 issues....I love my #N55
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09-21-2013, 01:31 AM	#5
MikeNeo BOSS 13 Rep 83 Posts Drives: Black/Red 135i Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Long Island, NY/Tampa, FL iTrader: (0)	32k miles and no problems. knock on wood. I've been tuned on and off since 5k or so __________________ Current: n55 135i 6mt Mods:jb3 stage 1, ar design downpipe, vmr v701, kw v2, m3 front sway
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09-21-2013, 05:17 AM	#6
335iFFM Second Lieutenant 25 Rep 210 Posts Drives: 335i Performance Join Date: Jan 2013 Location: Germany iTrader: (0)	35k kilometers. Tuned since 10k kilometers. Running JB4 Stage 2 Map5 with no Hardware Mods + Aral Ultimate 102 RON octane and 25% of E85. No problems at all knock on wood
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09-21-2013, 05:46 AM	#7
rr006rbc Colonel 1206 Rep 2,818 Posts Drives: '23 M440i GC Join Date: Mar 2013 Location: California iTrader: (38)	If you don't have issues early on with VANOS units or timing issues it should be smooth sailing after that..
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09-21-2013, 07:34 AM	#8
madmanhiker Lieutenant Colonel 88 Rep 1,615 Posts Drives: '11 E92 335i Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Jacksonville, Fl iTrader: (5) Garage List 2011 335i M-Sport [6.00] 2008 328i Sport Pre ... [0.00]	Zero issues - April 2010 build. LOVE IT. __________________ -madmanhiker jax,fl
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09-21-2013, 07:38 AM	#9
D's Bimmer Major 255 Rep 1,328 Posts Drives: 2016 340 Xi Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: Toronto iTrader: (1)	I have 112k on my 2011 335i already. Added the Dinan tune. It's been a great car in terms of reliability and performance. __________________ 2016 340Xi M-Sport Sedan \| BMW M Performance Exhaust l APEX SM-10 Wheels
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09-21-2013, 08:39 AM	#10
hgtran21 Captain 34 Rep 676 Posts Drives: 335i Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: san diego iTrader: (1)	holy 112k ?!!?!?
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09-21-2013, 01:16 PM	#16
CJ421 Brigadier General 2049 Rep 4,262 Posts Drives: BMW G80 M3 Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: PA, USA iTrader: (1) Garage List 2024 BMW M3 Sedan [9.67]	March 2011 build, currently at 21k without issues to report. __________________ 2024 BMW M3 Sedan Frozen Pure Grey II/Fjord Blue, 6MT Past: 2021 Z4 M40i Frozen Grey II/Black Alcantara \| 2017 F30 340i Mineral Gray/Coral Red, 6MT \| 2011 E92 335i Le Mans Blue/Black, 6MT
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09-21-2013, 02:28 PM	#17
Dark_Knight_335 Came to the N55 Darkside 1139 Rep 12,740 Posts Drives: 2011 335 E93 M-Sport Join Date: May 2010 Location: NY/NJ iTrader: (28)	2011 N55 here, with Dinan stage III, free flow exhaust, oil cooler, intercooler, and BMS intake. Zero issues and plenty of smooth, useable power two years running!
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09-21-2013, 03:08 PM	#19
IcebergM4 Major 367 Rep 1,060 Posts Drives: '23 M4C Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: SoFlo iTrader: (1)	July 2010 build here. Tuned since 1200 miles and FBO since 6000 miles. 28000 miles and ZERO issues!
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09-21-2013, 03:27 PM	#20
Beer Brewer Private First Class 3 Rep 109 Posts Drives: 2009 E92 M3 Join Date: Jul 2013 Location: Northeast iTrader: (0)	My E90 is a June 2010 build. 32,000 miles with a Cobb stage 1 aggressive tune, not even the faintest whiff of any engine trouble. I had 2 E60 535i's and both ran into engine problems before they hit 60,000 miles. My general understanding is that, while the N55 might not have the tuning potential of the N54, at least many of the bugs had been worked out and that it would be more reliable - that's certainly been my experience thus far.
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09-21-2013, 06:42 PM	#21
melloww22 Captain 109 Rep 955 Posts Drives: 2011 335i E90 Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: San Diego iTrader: (1)	2011 FBO with tune/s - solid with PPK 12k miles and COBB 15k miles
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09-22-2013, 12:00 AM	#22
Revision2 Captain 43 Rep 744 Posts Drives: JB 2011 E90 M3 Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: Toronto iTrader: (6)	Thanks for all the great feedback and it confirms the impression I got while reading some threads during my initial search. Hopefully I'll be joining this group in the near future. Just need to wait for a larger batch of '11 to return from lease so I have a better chance of getting the options I want. Cheers everyone.
	Appreciate 0 Quote